DIY saunas and sauna kits
The short answer
You can assemble a flat-pack kit yourself, saving the installation charge, or build from scratch with timber, insulation and a heater. Either way, the electrical connection must be done by a registered electrical contractor. Garden kits also need a solid, level base. Some Irish sellers sell their saunas flat-pack outside their installation area.
On this page
Kit or self-build
| Flat-pack kit | From scratch | |
|---|---|---|
| Skill needed | Competent DIY, two people | Carpentry, insulation and vapour barrier work |
| Time | Usually a day or two once the base is ready | Weeks of weekends |
| Design | Fixed | Any size or shape |
| Warranty | Usually the seller's, if assembled to instructions | Only on parts you buy |
| Still needs | Base, electrician | Base, heater, stones, electrician |
Assembling a kit
Most garden and indoor saunas are made as kits anyway: panels, staves or logs that go together on site. Timbertrove, for example, installs in the Greater Dublin Area and sells flat-pack elsewhere. Garden saunas from Irish sellers start at about €3,550, before any installation.
- Check the warranty covers self-assembly.
- Prepare the base first. Timbertrove says every sauna needs a solid, level base. See base and siting.
- Plan delivery, including how heavy parts get from the road to the garden. See delivery and assembly.
- Book the electrician for after assembly, to connect the heater and certify it.
Building from scratch
A self-built sauna is essentially a small, well-insulated timber room. The main parts:
- Frame and insulation, with a foil vapour barrier on the warm side so moisture doesn't reach the insulation.
- Interior cladding in untreated softwood, such as spruce or thermowood, with space for air to circulate.
- Benches in a wood that stays cool to the touch, with no exposed metal fixings.
- A heater sized to the room. Electric heaters start at about €490 from the sellers we checked. See sauna heaters.
- Ventilation: an inlet near the heater and an outlet higher up on the far side, following the heater manual.
- A door that opens outwards, with no lock.
Jobs for a professional
- All electrical work. By law, a registered electrical contractor must install the heater's circuit and give you a completion certificate. See electrical requirements.
- Flues for wood-burning stoves, which must meet the stove's clearances.
- Structural work if you're building into a house, attic or garage. See a sauna in a bathroom, attic or garage.
Common questions
Can I build my own sauna?
Yes. You can assemble a flat-pack sauna kit or build one from scratch. What you can't do yourself in Ireland is the electrical work: wiring a sauna heater must be done by a registered electrical contractor, who certifies it.
Is it cheaper to build your own sauna?
Assembling a kit yourself saves the installation charge. Building from scratch can save more, but only if your time is free and you already have the tools. Heater, stones, insulation, timber and the electrician all still cost money.
What wood is best for a DIY sauna?
Softwoods that stay cool to the touch and don't ooze resin, such as spruce, thermowood, cedar or aspen for benches. Use untreated wood inside: never varnish or lacquer the interior.
How long does it take to assemble a sauna kit?
It depends on the kit. Indoor cabin and barrel kits are designed to go up in a day or two with two people, once the base is ready. Ask the seller for the assembly time and instructions before you buy.
Do I need planning permission for a DIY garden sauna?
The same rules apply as for a bought one. Most garden saunas fall under the exemption for garden buildings if they meet the size and position rules. See planning permission for a garden sauna.
Sources
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